Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1916)

1124 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol 13. No. 8. G. M. Anderson Severs Connection with Essanay Secretary of Concern, Creator of "Broncho Billy," and the "A" of "S and A'' Stock to George K. Spoor — Makes No Announcement of Plans Sells His Special to Motion Picture News Chicago, Feb. 12. GM. ANDERSON, creator of the film • character "Broncho Billy," the "A" of "S and A" (Essanay), and for some years secretary of the Essanay company, has sold his minority holdings to George K. Spoor, and is no longer connected with the firm either as an actor or partner. Mr. Anderson was originally with the Selig company, but affiliated himself with George K. Spoor in 1906, when the Indian Head concern was launched. At that time Mr. Spoor had contracts with two Chicago vaudeville houses to furnish "chaser" pictures for emptying the theatres between various performances. Operations were begun in a tiny studio in Clark street, and soon after "The Great Train Robbery" was completed, a picture that was considered at that time the greatest achievement in moving pictures. Under the guidance of George K. Spoor this humble beginning was developed into the immense studios and laboratories that are now turning out Essanay pictures for world-wide distribution. Following Mr. Spoor's policy of concentrating his organization in Chicago, a plan that has been most successful, it is probable that the Niles, Cal., studio will be abandoned. Brenon a General of 10,000 in Oriental Sets Fox Director Marshals This Multitude in Slave Market and Moorish City Scenes for Annette Kellermann Picture Under Production in Jamaica "UNTO THOSE WHO SIN" PRESENTS FRITZI BRUNETTE AS STAR The Selig Red Seal Play, "Unto Thos Who Sin," to be released through V-L-S-li on Monday, March 6, will, the Selig Company believes, be found a worthy successor to "Thou Shall Not Covet." Miss Fritzi Brunette makes her initial debut as a star in V-L-S-E productions. SCENE FROM "UNTO THOSE WHO SIN" (Selig Red SeaUV-L-S-E. Play)_ . "Unto Those Who Sin" was written by James Oliver Curwood and truthfully presents the trials and temptations that beset the paths of working girls. A stenographer working for a mere pittance which is snatched from her by her parents weekly, succumbs to the enticements of luxury and fine dress. She sacrifices everything — even the love of an upright man—in order. to satisfy her passion for purple and fine linen. And when it is too late she discovers that true love is the greatest prize of all and that the wages of sin are death. "ELEPHANT" SMOKE EATERS HELP FORT LEE, N. J., FIRE FIGHTERS Following out the "safety first" idea, the World Film Corporation has installed at its Fort Lee, N. J., studio and its other plants in the vicinity a fire department. This department is composed of employees of the studio, most of whom live nearby. It works in conjunction with the regular uniform department of Fort Lee, and when its help is required to quench fires in the neighborhood, it co-operates with the Fort Lee fire fighters. The "Smoke Eaters" of the World Film Corporation are very proud of their organization and have fire drills twice a week. The company is called for the present the Elephant Hook and Ladder and Engine Company, the name being derived from the trade mark of the World Film Corporation. DIRECTOR HERBERT BRENON marshalled ten thousand persons in the slave market and Moorish city scenes for the new Annette Kellermann picture now under production for William Fox in Jamaica. These scenes are included in the milliondollar spectacle, upon which work has been proceeding since the middle of last August, and which is now more than half completed. The production to date is said to have cost over $700,000, and the total cost is expected to reach about $1,100,000, according to the Fox offices. The Moorish city set, built at a cost of $200,000, will show the slave mart and bazaars with thousands of men and women attired in elaborate Oriental costumes. Several thousands of these are West Indian negroes, others were Hindus, and still others native Jamaicans totally unused to being "shot" by motion picture cameras. Day after day these "mobs" were swung through their evolutions, the signals for them to stop or start being given by Director Brenon or his assistants with New York police whistles. In the direction of these scenes, Brenon would be on horseback one moment, afoot in the midst of the mob the next, or the next moment would give his orders from a balustrade or perched on the shoulders of native hlacks. , . The completed picture will be ready, for release some time in June. Detroit League Files Protest Against Censorship Gilligham of General Film Company Speaks to ernment Interference— Censor Question Special to Motion Picture News Detroit, Mich., Feb.' 12 TO protest against censorship and any appropriation for that purpose by the board of estimates, the Detroit Exhibitors' League held a meeting at its club rooms Monday afternoon, February 7, and at that time the league went on record as being' absolutely opposed to censorship in any form. The league contends that there has been a great improvement in the character of pictures produced during the past year, and that the coming year will see still greater improvement along that line. A. J. Gilligham, of the General Film Company, spoke to the members of the league and urged that every effort be put forth to down censorship. It is the contention of Mr. Gilligham that censorship in any form would only hamper the progress of the moving picture business. He spoke very forcibly against local censorship. The exhibitors present coincided with everything said by Mr. Gilligham. The question of whether Detroit will or will not have censorship is up to the board of Members and Urges Solid Front Against Govin City in Hands of Board of Estimate estimates. If this board passes upon > the appropriation asked for by the Recreation Commission to establish a censorship committee, then Detroit willhave censorship. If the exhibitors of Detroit can forestall this appropriation, then there will be no censorship, at least for another twelve months. A. U. Thornburg. FACTORY ACCIDENT CHANGES "SIS HOPKINS" RELEASE A factory accident to "A Flock of Skeletons," which was originally announced as the first Sis Hopkins release, has caused the Kalem company to postpone that issue while retakes are being made. "A Leap Year Wooing" is the comedy selected to inaugurate the new line of single reel subjects on the General Film Programme. The initial release date will be March 3, as originally announced, for "A Flock of Skeletons." It is probale that the latter subject will be the third release in the new line. The initial subject, "A Leap Year Wooing," presents Sis Hopkins as a love-lorn slavey, who lands in a whirl of excitement when she sets out to find a mate.